84 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



growing plant, with long drooping spikes from one to two feet 

 long. Sepals and petals brown; the lip red, striped with 

 white. It blooms in July or August, and lasts long in 

 beauty. 



CYPEIPEDIUMS. 



These are all beautiful in foliage as well as in flower, and 

 are worth a place in every collection. They are of easy cul- 

 ture, and require but little space ; the form of the flowers is 

 curious, being that of a slipper they are generally called the 

 Lady's Slipper, and are all dwarf, compact, and evergreen, 

 the leaves of some being beautifully spotted. They produce 

 their flowers from the centre of the leaves, on an upright stalk, 

 and rise from six inches to a foot high. All are best grown 

 in the East India house, except insigne, which thrives best in 

 a cooler place, and will do well in a warm greenhouse. I 

 grow all in pots with peat, loam, and sand ; they all require 

 a liberal quantity of water at their roots during their period 

 of growth. They need but little rest, and should not be 

 allowed to get too dry at the roots. The plants are not like 

 many of our Orchids j they have no thick fleshy bulbs to 

 supply them with nourishment. They are propagated by 

 dividing the plant. 



Cypripedium barbatum. A pretty species, with beautifully 

 spotted foliage ; the colour of the flowers brownish-purple and 

 white : it produces its solitary flowers at different times of 

 the year, lasting six weeks in bloom. There are two varieties 

 of this plant, one being much brighter in colour than the 

 other. 



C. barbatum grandiflorum. A charming variety, the 

 flowers of which are larger than those of any of the other 

 kinds, and it has finely variegated foliage. Flowers in July 

 and August, and continues six weeks in bloom. 



C. barbatum superbum. A fine variety, which grows in the 

 same way as barbatum ; but the foliage is more variegated, 



